Rise in Food Insecurity Among Children

Do you have a nine- or ten-year-old in your life? Perhaps a grandchild, a neighbor, a niece, or a friend’s daughter?

Seems like their attention revolves so much around friendships, peer influences, school activities, and the social practices of what to wear and what music to listen to. So, it was a jarring moment when a school administrator we know well in our community asked, “What nine year old starts every conversation about food?” She was talking about “Alice”, the daughter of a single mother and a 4th grader in a Philadelphia area public school who comes to school every morning hungry. A student for whom the next meal is a primary focus and a constant distraction, getting in the way of her attention span in the classroom. 
 
Alice relies on federally provided lunches at her public school. But no breakfast. No food during the summer and on public holidays when the school is closed. She is one of more than 215,000 people in the Philadelphia area who are food insecure. And the bottom line according to some studies? Alice’s life expectancy will be as much as 20 years less than another nine year old living only less than 5 miles away¹. 
 
In a nation as prosperous as the United States, the ongoing challenge of food insecurity highlights significant disparities, especially for its youngest citizens. According to Feeding America, among the 47 million Americans struggling to access sufficient food, a staggering 14 million are children. This pervasive issue touches every corner of the country from urban areas to rural communities. It is driven by the complex cascade of poverty, unemployment, and the high costs of living. The burden is even heavier for families with children. Hunger disproportionately affects households led by single parents—a reality for 1 in 3 such families. 
 
The impact of food insecurity on children’s lives is profound and multifaceted, often creating a paradoxical rise in both hunger and pediatric obesity. Families facing food insecurity may turn to low-cost, high-calorie foods, leading to poor nutrition and higher obesity rates among children. Currently, over 15% of children in the U.S. are categorized as obese, with a large portion coming from food-insecure homes. 
 
This cycle of insufficient access to nutritious food exacerbates numerous health and developmental risks, as hunger and poor diet lead to weakened immune systems, greater susceptibility to illness, and developmental delays. These physical effects are matched by cognitive and behavioral impacts; children facing food insecurity struggle with attention, concentration, and academic achievement, often falling behind their peers in school. 
 
The implications extend beyond childhood. As these children grow into young adults, the effects of early food insecurity carry over into the workforce. They face increased health problems and diminished academic credentials, which can limit career opportunities and earning potential. The cycle of poverty often continues, affecting not only their quality of life but also the overall economic productivity and workforce stability of the nation. Addressing food insecurity, therefore, is about more than meeting immediate needs; it is about investing in the future workforce, ensuring that every child has the foundation they need to grow, learn, and succeed and become a contributing member of their community. 
 
This Thanksgiving as you consider your philanthropic outreach, your grants and opportunities to volunteer, please consider those who are going without and know that access to healthy food and good nutrition every day has an impact on learning and mental and physical development for children now and into adulthood.